“Townscape M1” is an artwork created by Gerhard Richter in 1968. It is part of the “Townscapes (1968-1970)” series and belongs to the New European Painting art movement. This cityscape genre painting exemplifies Richter’s exploration of urban environments during that period.
The artwork features an abstract aerial view of a city. Dominated by shades of grey, the piece captures the layout and architectural forms in a manner that abstracts them from their real-world counterparts. The use of broad, expressive brushstrokes conveys a sense of texture and movement, while the monochromatic palette strips the scene of its geographical and cultural specificity, inviting viewers to contemplate the composition as a pure visual experience. The composition appears to be fragmented, yet there is an underlying structure that hints at the geometric order typical of urban planning, offering an intriguing blend of abstraction and representation.
